Poultry breast meat apportioning method

ABSTRACT

A method for apportioning larger poultry breast wherein the forward region of the breast is compressed to a flat uniform thickness, t 1 . The rearward tapering portion of the breast is compressed to a uniform thickness t 2 . Compression of these portions of the breast is undertaken in conjunction with containment walls. Following such compression, the breast portions are peripherally trimmed to provide a defined shape. Then, the breast forward portion at thickness t 1  is horizontally slit to provide at least two meat products.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/355,369 filed Feb. 7, 2002.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The processing of meat, and especially of poultry, has bourgeoned towhere over four billion chickens are processed and sold yearly in theUnited States. The consumption of poultry in the United States hasincreased to where, for the first time since 1988, it exceeded that ofbeef. Such increase has been attributed to the recommendation of manymedical groups that red meats be substituted with poultry or fish havinga relatively lower percentage of saturated fat as a means of reducingoverall serum cholesterol levels and attendant risk of heart disease.

Spurred largely by consumer demand, producers of prepared and packagedfoods, as well as restaurateurs, have been using more and more poultry,and have required suppliers to deliver products meeting quite stringentsize and weight specifications.

A variety of mechanisms have been developed with the purpose ofapportioning chicken breasts. For the most part these devices havefailed to reliably cut meat portion margins and have failed toaccurately accommodate for the inherent orientation memory of musclefibers. The former separation defect required hand trimming to achievean acceptable profile, while the later defect resulted in uneven cookingattributes.

In 1995, Smith introduced a controlled volume chicken breast apportionerwhich exhibited the advantages of carrying out very reliable separationand which functioned to accurately overcome orientation memory toachieve both uniform thickness from portion-to-portion and contribute toimproved cooking attributes. Described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,070 issuedOct. 29, 1996, the apportioner employs a blade containing an uppercutting head die wherein the blade is combined with a rearwardlydisposed compression surface. This upper die cooperates with a sequenceof platens each of which incorporates a boundary slot for receiving thedie blade and an associated bearing surface configured to engage thecompression surfaces. This combination achieves highly reliablesevering. The apparatus further incorporates a thickness definingcompression component, which both reduces orientation memory andcontrols the shape of the resultant meat product. The Smith deviceefficiently prepared chicken breast cutlets from breasts having weightsranging from about 7 ounces to about 28 ounces.

Over the somewhat recent past, chicken producers in the United Stateshave been called upon to grow larger birds which, in turn, providelarger breasts ranging in weight from about 16 to about 24 ounces. Toaccommodate for these larger sizes, some producers have “horizontally”severed the breasts in half prior to submitting them to apportioningsystems. When so severed in half the thinner tapering rearward region ofthe breast is unavailable for forming primary cutlets, the weight-basedvalue of which is comparatively higher. Correspondingly, a substantialportion of the original breast is consigned to less profitable forms ofmeats which for the most part, are ground. In contrast the moreprofitable primary cutlets are configured for bun or plate coverage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is addressed to a method for apportioning poultrybreast which provides a substantially improved yield of higher qualityproducts intended for plate or bun utilization. Employing an adaptationof the earlier Smith apportioning apparatus, the method utilizes dualconformance paddle assemblies having flat compression surfaces. One suchassembly is used to form with a platen mounted forward containment walla forward breast portion of uniform thickness t₁. A second suchconformance paddle assembly is utilized in conjunction with a platenmounted rearward containment wall to form a rearward compressed breastportion of uniform thickness, t₂ which is selected to be about one halfthe thickness t₁. A die assembly then is utilized to complete theproduct peripheral definition with a trimming action. Then, theperipherally defined, uniformly thick forward portion is severedhorizontally to derive two or more quality meat products. Typically eachof these forward products will exhibit a thickness, t₁/t₂.

Another feature and object of the invention is to provide a method ofapportioning poultry breast into meat products wherein the breast has aforward portion tapering to a thinner rearward portion and a wholebreast weight equal to or greater to about sixteen ounces. The methodcomprises the steps of:

(a) compressing the breast forward portion against a containment walldefining at least a portion of the periphery of a forward meat product.This compression establishes substantially flat upper and lower meatsurfaces which are spaced apart a substantially uniform forwardthickness, t₁;

(b) compressing the breast rearward portion against a containment walldefining at least a portion of the periphery of a rear meat product.This compression establishes substantially flat upper and lower meatsurfaces which are spaced apart a substantially uniform rear thickness,t₂ which is less than the forward thickness t₁;

(c) severing the compressed breast forward portion from the compressedbreast rearward portion;

(d) trimming the compressed breast forward portion to define a forwardperiphery of a meat product exhibiting thickness t₁; and

(e) horizontally severing the compressed and trimmed breast lowerportion.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, inpart, appear hereinafter. The invention, accordingly, comprises themethod possessing the steps which are exemplified in the followingdetailed description.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a whole chicken breast showing cuts whichmay be developed from it and showing dimensional aspects;

FIG. 2 is a schematic profile of a large size breast of chicken showinga method of the prior art apportioning it;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for carrying out the methodof the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken through the plane 7—7 shown inFIG. 12;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a die assembly of the apparatus of FIG.3;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken from FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken through the plane 10—10 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 11 is a is a perspective view of arrays of conformance paddleassemblies employed with the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken through the plane 12—12 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 as modified toinclude trim, feed, and product conveyer assemblies;

FIG. 14 is a top view of a platen showing a modified severance boundarypattern;

FIG. 15 is a schematic flow diagram of a representative sequence ofoperational steps for controlling the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective schematic view showing breast meat productdeveloped with the pattern of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective and schematic view of a ten productapportionment of poultry breast derived with the method of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The relatively abundant size of chicken breast which are apportioned inaccordance with the method of the invention is revealed in connectionwith FIG. 1. In that figure, a somewhat stylized representation of oneof the unprocessed full chicken breasts is represented in general at 10.Breast 10 is shown having an outer periphery identified at 12. Asquantified in Table 1, one half of this whole breast 10 is defined ashaving dimensions A-I. Additionally represented in the figure is oneembodiment showing the periphery of resultant forward and rearwardproducts resulting from the method and shown respectively at 14 and 16.In order to accurately define these peripheries, a relatively smallamount of trim is produced, for example, as represented at 18.

Looking to FIG. 2, an approach to apportioning present in the prior artis revealed. In the figure, a major cross section of one half of achicken breast is represented at 20. The prior art approach toapportioning breast 20 has been to somewhat horizontally andlongitudinally slice the breast 20 in half as represented at dashed line22. Then, the rearward portion of the breast 20, as representedgenerally at 24, was removed by vertical severance as represented atdashed line 26. Following this severance, two parts of the forwardportion of the breast as at 28 and 30 were then provided. However, withthis approach the rearward portion 24 was too thin and, therefore,considered as less profitable trim. As is apparent, this earliertechnique is both inefficient and uneconomical.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, an apparatus by which the method of theinvention carried out is represented in general at 30. The principalcomponents of apparatus 30 includes a die assembly 32 and at least oneand preferably four platens 34 a-34 d. An upwardly disposed actuatorassembly is represented generally at 36, while a lower actuator orindexing assembly is represented generally at 38.

FIGS. 3-6 reveal that the apparatus 10 incorporates a square tubularbase represented generally at 40. Base 40 is formed with four cornerpositioned upstanding legs 42-45 which extend to an upper framerepresented generally at 46. Base 40 further includes indexing mechanism38 mounted upon horizontal support struts 48, 50 and 52. Support struts48 and 50 support an indexing drive motor 54, the rotational output ofwhich is directed to a gear assembly 56. Gear assembly 56 rotationallydrives a turntable 58 which, in turn, supports a radially disposedroller 60 which cooperates with a follower component 62. Followercomponent 62 is coupled in driving relationship with an upstanding shaft64 which is rotatable about an axis 66. Similarly, turntable 58 is shownas being rotatable about an axis 68. Follower component 62 additionallyis configured incorporating slots 70 a-70 d (FIGS. 3 and 7) arranged inquadrature. With this arrangement, the indexing assembly 38 assumes thecharacteristics of a Geneva mechanism by which rotational action isimparted to the shaft 64.

Indexing shaft 64 extends upwardly to a hub 72 which, in turn, supportsfour radially disposed arms 74 a-74 d arranged in quadrature. Arms 74a-74 d extend to upstanding connector tabs shown respectively at 76 a-76d (FIGS. 3 and 4). Tabs 76 a-76 d are inserted within slots (not shown)within the undersides of the respective platens 34 a-34 d. With thearrangement shown, and is seen in particular in FIG. 6, the Genevamechanism functions to, in effect, define four stations which arenumbered in the figure as such. At station 1 compression and cuttingtakes place, while at station 2, trim and meat products are removed forconveyer transport. At station 3 the platens are loaded and at station 4the platens commence to be moved upon a ramp such as at 78, 80 and 82 asseen in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 1 and 6 reveal one embodiment of thestructuring of the platens 34 a-34 g providing for the production of sixquality meat products in conjunction with a comparatively small amountof trim. Each platen 32 a-32 d is configured having an upwardly disposedflat support surface shown respectively at 84 a-84 d. Also, each platenis formed having an upstanding forward containment wall represented ingeneral respectively at 86 a-86 d. For the instant embodiment, thoseforward containment walls are, in effect, split in half. Walls 86 a-86 dextend between forward wall termini shown at 88 a-88 d and at 90 a-90 d.Extending from the forward wall termini 88 a-88 d and 90 a-90 d is aseverance boundary having a medial portion shown at 92 a-92 d. Thosemedial portions 92 a-92 d extend to severance boundary rearward portionsshown at 94 a-94 d. Accordingly, the forward containment walls 86 a-86 dcombine with the severance boundary portions 92 a-92 d and 94 a-94 d todefine forward regions having a shape or periphery which correspondswith the ultimately derived forward meat product peripheral shape. Thoseforward regions are represented at 96 a-96 d.

Also mounted upon the support surfaces 84 a-84 d are rearwardcontainment walls represented generally at 98 a-98 d. The generallyv-shaped walls 98 a-98 d combine with the severance boundary rearwardportions 94 a-94 d to define respective rear regions 100 a-1002 d. Forthe present configurational embodiment, the forward regions 96 a-96 dand rear regions 100 a-100 d are severed in half by a longitudinalcomponent of the severance boundaries as shown respectively at 102 a-102d. These longitudinal components provide for the production of six welldefined accompanied products.

Platens 34 a-34 d as thus configured, perform in conjunction with a dieassembly as earlier described in general at 32, as well as inconjunction with conformance paddle assemblies which establish requisitemeat thicknesses in operational association with the containment wallsas well as boundaries or peripheries in conjunction with the severanceboundaries. Looking to FIG. 8, die assembly 32 is revealed at a higherlevel of detail. The assembly is configured having a downwardlydepending severance component represented generally at 110. Severancecomponent 110 is configured to be coextensive with the severanceboundary components described at 92 a-92 d 94 a-94 d and 102 a-102 d.The component 110 is formed with downwardly extending supports 112-116which, in turn, support wedge-shaped compression surfaces shownrespectively at 118-122. Extending further outwardly from the center ofthe compression surfaces 118-122 are respective blades 124-128.

Looking additionally to FIG. 9, compression surface 118 and blade 124are shown in operative association with severance boundary medialportion 92 a of platen 34 a. Note that the severance boundary is formedas a slot 130 extending inwardly from the support surface 84 a of platen34 a. The upper edges of the slot 130 are radiused as at 132 and 134.Accordingly, as the die assembly 32 descends the encountered meat willbe severed by the blade as at 124, whereupon complete severance isassured by the engagement of compression surface 118 with the radiusedslot edges 132 and 134.

FIGS. 1 and 10 reveal that the die assembly 32 is moved betweenretracted and extended orientations by a hydraulic cylinder 140 fixedbetween an upper mount 142 and lower mount 144. Lower mount 144, inturn, is coupled to a mounting plate 146 which, in turn, is fixed toside mounts 148 and 150. FIG. 10 reveals a dual acting piston 152extending from the cylinder 140 which is threadably connected to dieassembly 32 in conjunction with a spacer nut 154. FIG. 10 shows theapparatus 30 with piston 152 fully extended such that the blades andcompression surfaces of the die assembly are fully engaged with thecorresponding severance boundaries of platen 34 a. Note in the figurethat the top of spacer nut 154 freely abuttably engages a drive plate156. Plate 156 will have been driven to the compression position shownby oppositely disposed arrays of helical compression springs representedgenerally at 158 and 160. Each spring in the arrays 158 and 160 slidablyextends over a drive rod, certain of which are represented at 162. Thesedrive rods 162 are fixed at their lower ends to drive plate 156 andslidably extend through respective flange components 164 and 166. Theamount of downward travel which rods 162 may undertake is limited by athreadably associated stop nut, certain of which are revealed at 168,which is combined with an associated lock nut certain of which are shownat 170. FIG. 10 further reveals that drive plate 156 supports an arrayof downwardly vertically extending slide rods represented generally at172 which slidably extend through corresponding cylindrical channelswithin die assembly 32 and are connected with rearward and forwardconformance paddle assemblies 174 and 176. Assembly 174 is revealed inFIG. 10. These assemblies are formed of polymeric material and exhibitflat compression surfaces intended to contact breast meat. Note in FIG.10 that a compression surface 178 is present in conjunction withconformance paddle assembly 174 and that it is spaced above the supportsurface 84 a of platen 34 a. This spacing, identified as t₂ determinesthe thickness of the meat portion being developed.

Looking additionally to FIG. 11, the rearward conformance paddleassembly 174 is revealed in perspective fashion in association withforward conformance paddle assembly 176. For the method at hand, therearward conformance paddle assembly 174 will move to a compressionposition lower than forward compression assembly 176. This is becausethe breast meat tapers rearwardly and, in accordance with themethodology of the invention, the meat products developed in conjunctionwith conformance paddle assembly 176 will be, for example, twice asthick as those evolved in conjunction with conformance assembly 174. Inthis regard, FIG. 9 reveals a portion of forward conformance paddleassembly 176 and associated compression surface 180 being spaced adistance, t₁ from platen 34 a support surface 84 a. FIG. 9 additionallyshows the compression surface 180 to be in its compression position. Incomparison, FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 12 illustrate the orientation of driveplate 156 and associated drive rods 162 in a retracted orientation. Thisorientation is achieved by reversing drive piston 152 to elevate the dieassembly 32 and in turn move drive plate 156 upwardly to load the arraysof springs 158 and 160. Correspondingly, when the piston 152 is drivendownwardly, the spring arrays 158 and 160 drive plate 156 and associatedconformance paddle arrays 174 and 176 downwardly ahead of the cuttingaction. This causes the breast positioned over of the platens to becompressed to a uniform thickness against the forward and rearwardcontainment walls 86 a-86 d and 98 a-98 d. Additionally, the paddleswill cause the meat to migrate over the severance boundaries assuring auniform periphery for the meat products.

The apparatus 30 may be utilized in conjunction with a variety ofconveyer configurations. Exemplaries such conveyer configurations arerevealed in FIG. 13. Looking to that figure, a conveyer 190 ispositioned to receive trim portions from the support surfaces of theplatens 34 a-34 c. A conveyer 192 is positioned to receive theapportioned meat product from the platens and a conveyer 194 ispositioned for conveying un-apportioned breast for loading at station 3as shown in FIG. 6. Also shown in FIG. 13 is a wiper member 196 having aconfrontation surface 198 disposed to contact and remove the treatedmeat products from the platens.

Referring to FIG. 14, a variation of the portioning patterns isillustrated in conjunction with a platen represented in general at 200.As before, platen 200 is formed with a support surface 202. Upstandingfrom the support surface 202 is a forward containment wall representedgenerally at 204 and extending between forward wall termini 206 and 208.Extending between these termini 206 and 208 is the medial portion of aseverance boundary 210 which extends to a commonality with a rearwardportion of the severance boundary represented at 212. The rearwardportion of the severance boundary extends to the termini 214 and 216 ofa rearward containment wall 218. As in the earlier embodiments, alongitudinal component of the severance boundary is provided at 220 toevolve a total of six meat products as opposed to three. As before, thedie assembly severance component will exhibit a peripheral patternconfigured to be coextensive with the severance boundaries of platen200.

Referring to FIG. 15, a control sequence for the apparatus 30 isillustrated in flow diagrammatic fashion. Entry into the operationalsequence is represented at block 230 with the actuation of a startbutton initiating a pump for providing hydraulic fluid controlling ofhydraulic cylinder 154. As represented at line 232 and block 234 theapparatus is then energized by the actuation of a second start button orswitch. Following these initializations, as represented at line 236 andblock 238 a determination is made as to whether a safety cover (notshown) is down. In the event that it is not, then as represented at line240 and block 242, a visual cue is provided to the operator and thecontrol dwells until such time that the cover is down. The program thenreturns to block 234 as represented at line 244.

Where the safety cover is down, then as represented at line 246 andblock 248, the system determines whether the piston 152 of hydrauliccylinder 140 is retracted to its initial position. In the event that itis not, then as represented at line 250 and block 252 a visual cue isprovided calling for the actuation of the pump start button. The controlthen dwells as represented at line 254 until appropriate retraction ofthe piston is carried out. Where the piston is in appropriate position,then as represented at line 256 and block 258 an indication is providedthat the apparatus 30 is energized. Next, as represented at line 260 andblock 262 a determination is made as to whether a platen is located inregistration with the die assembly. Where it is not, then as representedat line 264 and block 266 the control system dwells until a next platenis in proper position. The control sequence then continues asrepresented at line 268. Where a platen is properly located with respectto the die assembly, then as represented at line 270 and block 272 asolenoid actuating the hydraulic cylinder 150 is energized toappropriately charge the hydraulic cylinder. Next, as represented atline 274 and block 276 a determination is made as to whether thehydraulic cylinder pressure has been acquired. In the event that it hasnot, then as represented at line 278 and block 280 a determination ismade as to whether an interval of three seconds has occurred. In theevent that it has, then a malfunction is considered to be at hand and asrepresented at line 282 and node 284 the apparatus 30 is stopped. Wherethree seconds has not passed, then as represented at line 286 thecontrol sequence dwells.

Where proper cylinder pressure has been reached, then as represented atline 288 and block 290 the piston 152 is retracted to raise the dieassembly and associated drive plate 156. The sequence further provides,as represented at line 292 and block 294 an operator initiated stoppage.Where a stop switch has been actuated by the operator, as represented atline 296 and node 298, apparatus 30 is stopped. However, where theoperator has not actuated a stop switch, then as represented at line300, the control sequence awaits the positioning of a next platen inregistry with the die assembly.

Referring to FIG. 16, a flowchart illustrating the method of theinvention is presented. The method commences as represented at block 310with the positioning for a whole breast upon the platen support surface.In connection with apparatus 30, this is carried out at station 3 asillustrated in FIG. 6. Placement of the breast is such that its thickerforward portion is located at forward region 96C and the taperingrearward portion of the breast is located over rear region 100 c.Additionally with this placement, the forward periphery of the thickerportion of the breast is positioned in somewhat abutting adjacency withthe forward containment wall 86 c and the rearward periphery of thetapering portion of the breast is located so as to be somewhat adjacentrearward containment wall 98 c. Next in the method, as represented atline 312 and block 314, the conformance paddles as described inconnection with FIG. 11 are moved under the pressure of spring arrays158 and 160 (FIG. 10) to their compression positions. As represented atline 316 and block 318 this will cause the breast forward portion to becompressed against the forward containment wall and further will causethe forward region of the breast to migrate over the severance boundarymedial portion and rearward portion. It may be recalled that thecompression surfaces 178 and 180 of the rearward and forward conformancepaddles will reach and compressively contact the upwardly disposedsurface of the breast before die assembly 32 enters into severingengagement with the associated platen. This compression, as representedat line 320 and block 322 will provide a compressed breast forwardportion at a pre-established thickness t₁. That thickness, t₁ is electedso as to provide two high quality apportioned meat products. Asrepresented at line 324 and block 326 the breast rearward portion iscompressed by the rearward conformance paddle assembly 174 (FIG. 11)against the rearward containment wall of the platen and against theassociated support surface to derive a uniform breast thickness t₂. Thiscompression of the rearward portion of the breast also causes a quantityof the meat to migrate over the severance boundary so as to be cut bythe die assembly 32. As represented at line 328 and block 330 thisprovides a compressed breast rearward portion at the noted thickness,t₂. Steps 318, 322, 326, and 330 may be performed sequentially, in anyorder, or simultaneously, with one or more platens. The forward andrearward breast portions now being compressed to their appropriatethicknesses and migration over the severance boundary, as represented atline 332 and block 334 die assembly 32 is moved from its retracted toits advanced position to carry out a vertical severance of the thicknessconformed meat along the severance boundary. As represented at line 336and block 338, this provides a compressed breast forward portion with adefined periphery at the noted thickness, t₁. Those components of thebreast forward portion which migrated over the severance boundary aretrim which is collected as represented at line 340 and block 342. Insimilar fashion, as represented at line 344 and block 346 a compressedbreast rearward portion is derived having a defined periphery and at thenoted thickness t₂. The compression of the forward and rearward portionsmay be performed sequentially, in either order, or simultaneously.Because the compression is designed to migrate an amount of breast meatover the severance boundary, a trim is evolved. As represented at line348 and block 350 that trim is collected. This trim collection may occursequentially, as illustrated, in reverse order, or simultaneously. Theprocedure provides, as represented at line 352 and block 354 a breastmeat product at thickness t₂ which is ready for distribution toretailers at the properly designated thickness. Next, as represented atline 356 and block 358 the forward portions at thickness t₁ aresubmitted to a conventional horizontal slicer and are sliced into twocomponent parts, each of which is a valuable product. These products arerepresented in connection with line 360 and block 362 as being twoproducts at thickness t₁/₂. The exact thickness for these products isgenerally at the election of the producer. Where longitudinal severanceis provided and two product components are developed with respect toblock 354 and four products are developed in connection with block 362.The products associated with block 362 will comprise a skin side productand a non-skin side product.

Turning now to FIG. 17, representation of the breast meat productsdeveloped from platen 200 as described in connection with FIG. 14 isprovided. In the figure, note that two peripherally defined rearwardbreast products at thickness t₂ are developed as represented at 362 and364. Additionally, four high quality forward portion breast products atthickness t₁/₂ are developed as represented at 366-369. With theproduction of these quality products, an amount of trim is evolved asrepresented at 372 and 374.

The number of products can be expanded. Looking to FIG. 18, two rearwardproducts at thickness t₂ are revealed at 380 and 381. Additionallyproduced with the method are eight peripherally defined forward productsat thickness t₁/₂ as represented at 384-391. Resultant trim componentsare revealed at 394 and 396.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described method withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the description thereof or shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense. It will be apparent to the skilled artisan thatvarious steps of the disclosed method may either be performed in theorder set forth in the drawings and accompanying description, or thesequence of certain of the steps may be altered. Also, certain steps ofthe method may be performed simultaneously.

TABLE 1 DIM LINE AVERAGE VALUE A 8.10 IN B 8.03 IN C 4.62 IN D 6.70 IN E1.89 IN F 3.13 IN G 4.30 IN H 5.08 IN I 4.10 IN

What is claimed is:
 1. The method for apportioning poultry breast intomeat products, said breast having a forward portion of first generalthickness tapering to a rearward portion of second general thicknessless than said first general thickness, comprising the steps of: (a)providing at least one platen having a support surface, a forwardcontainment wall defining the peripheral shape of a portion of a forwardproduct formed of said breast meat forward portion, said wall extendingbetween forward wall termini, a severance boundary extending from saidwall termini and having a medial portion which defines, at least inpart, with said forward containment wall a forward region correspondingwith said forward product peripheral shape, said severance boundaryhaving a rearward portion defining at least a portion of a rear regioncorresponding with the periphery of a rearward product formed from saidbreast rearward portion; (b) providing a die assembly having a severancecomponent exhibiting a peripheral pattern configured to be coextensivewith said severance boundary, said die assembly being movable between aretracted and an advanced position moving said severance component intosevering engagement with said platen severance boundary; (c) providing afirst conformance paddle assembly having a compression surface generallyaligned with said platen forward region, said first conformance paddlebeing movable between a retracted and a first compression positionlocated in spaced adjacency from said platen support surface; (d)placing a said breast upon said platen support surface in an orientationwherein said breast forward portion is located at said platen forwardregion and said breast rearward portion is located at said platen rearregion; (e) moving said first conformance paddle assembly compressionsurface from said retracted position into a said first compressionposition effective to cause said breast forward portion to assume asubstantially uniform thickness, t₁, and effecting the peripherydefining engagement of a peripheral extent of said breast forwardportion with said forward containment wall and extension of a trimcomponent across the said medial portion of said severance receiverboundary; (f) moving said die assembly from said retracted to saidadvanced position effective to vertically sever said breast forwardportion from said breast rearward portion along said severance boundaryand deriving at least one peripherally defined said rearward productfrom said breast rearward portion; and (g) horizontally cutting saidsevered breast forward portion in a manner effective to derive at leasttwo peripherally and thickness defined said meat products.
 2. The methodof claim 1 in which: said step (c) further comprises the step: (c1)providing a second conformance paddle assembly having a compressionsurface generally aligned with said platen rear region, movable betweena retracted and second compression position located in spaced adjacencyfrom said platen support surface; and said step (e) further comprisesthe step: (e1) moving said second conformance paddle assemblycompression surface from said retracted position into a said secondcompression position effective to cause said breast rearward portion toassume a substantially uniform thickness, t₂, less than said thickness,t₁, and effecting the extension of a meat trim component across saidseverance boundary rearward portion.
 3. The method of claim 2 in which:said step (e1) moves said second conformance paddle compression surfaceinto said second compression position effective to cause said breastrearward portion to assume a substantially uniform thickness, t₂, whichis about one-half said thickness, t₁.
 4. The method of claim 1 in which:said step (a) provides said platen as having a rearward containment wallextending between rearward wall termini and defining a portion of saidrear region, said severance boundary rearward portion extending fromsaid rearward wall termini and defining therewith said periphery of saidrearward product.
 5. The method of claim 4 in which: said step (a)provides said rearward containment wall of said platen as having agenerally v-shaped configuration.
 6. The method of claim 1 in which:said step (a) provides said platen as having a longitudinal component ofsaid severance boundary positioned at a location on said support surfaceto define a right forward region and a left forward region surface; saidstep (c) provides said first conformance paddle assembly as having aright compression surface generally aligned with said platen rightforward region, and a left compression surface generally aligned withsaid platen left forward surface; said step (f) moves said die assemblyto said advanced position to vertically sever said breast forwardportion into two breast forward portions; and said step (g) horizontallycuts said two breast forward portions to derive four peripherally andthickness defined said meat products.
 7. The method of claim 2 in which:said step (a) provides said platen as having a longitudinal component ofsaid severance boundary positioned at a location on said support surfaceto define a right rear region and a left rear region; said step (c)provides said second conformance paddle assembly as having a rightcompressive surface generally aligned with said platen right rearregion, and a left compressive surface generally aligned with saidplaten left rear region; and said step (f) moves said die assembly tosaid advanced position to vertically sever said breast rearward portioninto two breast rearward portions.
 8. The method of claim 1 in which:said step (a) provides said platen as having a said severance boundarywhich includes a laterally disposed portion extending across saidforward region to define a two part said forward product peripheralshape; and said step (g) horizontally cuts said two part forwardproduct.
 9. The method of apportioning poultry breast into meat productssaid breast having a forward portion tapering to a thinner rearwardportion and a whole breast weight equal to or greater than about 16ounces, comprising the steps of: (a) compressing said breast forwardportion against a containment wall defining at least a portion of theperiphery of a forward said meat product, said compression establishingsubstantially flat upper and lower meat surfaces spaced apart asubstantially uniform forward thickness, t₁; (b) compressing said breastrearward portion against a containment wall defining at least a portionof the periphery of a rear said meat product, said compressionestablishing substantially flat upper and lower meat surfaces spacedapart a substantially uniform rear thickness, t₂, less than said forwardthickness, t₁; (c) severing said compressed breast forward portion fromsaid compressed breast rearward portion; (d) trimming said compressedbreast forward portion to define a forward periphery of a meat productexhibiting said thickness, t₁; and (e) horizontally severing saidcompressed and trimmed breast forward portion.
 10. The method of claim 9in which: said step (d) further comprises the step: (d) trimming saidcompressed breast rearward portion to define a rear periphery of a meatproduct exhibiting said thickness, t₂.
 11. The method of claim 9 inwhich: said steps (a) and (b) compress respective said breast forwardportion and breast rearward portion to an extent wherein said thickness,t₂, is about one-half said thickness, t₁.
 12. The method of claim 9 inwhich: said step (b) compresses said breast rearward portion against asaid containment wall exhibiting a generally v-shaped periphery.
 13. Themethod of claim 9 in which: said step (c) further comprises the step:(c1) severing said compressed breast forward portion longitudinally inhalf.
 14. The method of claim 9 in which: said step (c) furthercomprises the step: (c2) severing said compressed breast rearwardportion longitudinally in half.